Dear Patient,
The day after you are discharged from the hospital, start bladder training.
Step 1: Apply the clamp given to you on the "X" marked on the catheter.
Step 2: Start drinking fluids. When you feel the urge to urinate, go to the bathroom and try to urinate. There is a 75% chance you will be able to urinate right away, even though slowly or not completely. This is normal because the bladder is still weak from surgery and it will get better as the bladder muscle gets stronger.
Step 3: After you are finished urinating, open the clamp and let the urine drain in the leg bag. Get an idea about the amount of the residual urine drained.
Step 4: Reclamp the catheter. Continue measuring residuals. Once the residuals become low (less than 2 ounces, or 60 cc), keep the catheter clamped all the time. The catheter needs to be clamped completely for 2 days (day and night) before it can be removed by your doctor.
In case you cannot urinate right away, please DO NOT PANIC. This is not unusual. All it means is that your bladder needs a little more time to start working. Just drain the bladder, leave the catheter open for 2 to 3 hours, and then retry the steps above.
THESE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY ONLY IF YOU HAVE A SUPRAPUBIC TUBE, WHICH IS A CATHETER THAT COMES OUT YOUR LOWER ABDOMEN. MANY PATIENTS WILL HAVE NO CATHETER AT ALL, OR A CATHETER COMING OUT THE URETHRA.
Doctors with expertise in incontinence, bladder suspension ("bladder lift") and sling procedures, kidney stones, no needle no scalpel vasectomy, vasectomy reversal, laparoscopy and laparoscopic kidney and prostate surgery, prostate diseases including cancer and enlarged prostate
Adult and pediatric urology, urologic surgery, in Orange County California
Serving Orange, Tustin, Irvine, Santa Ana and Garden Grove
